Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-08-05
WICHITA AT WAGON WHEEL GAP.

We left Wichita the It'll of July; GU
party consisted of nineteen adults and si
babies. At Halsted we met with Sigh
accident which obliged us to transfer t
another sleeper, and when twenty mile
from Pueblo Monday morning, our trail
was side-tracked with the information tina
washout ahead would detain us tw,
hours. The two hours heightened int
eight before we could pull across the Dol
ton of the track which had been under
mined by a sudden torrent from the ada
cent hills We had no dinner and yer,
hungry party were we when We reached
Pueblo later in the afternoon Judg
Wall with his family and Mr.. Robert Jack
went from here to Manitou. and at mid
night we boarded the Denver & Rio Grand,
train bound for Wagon Wheel Gap Riding
in narrow gauge sleeping Car was a new
experience and one to be remembered
At in the morning we were all up t.
view the ascent of La Veta Pass. This wal
our first view of the mountains and the
Spanish Peaks covered with snow was
very refreshing sight to wanderer just
from Kansas We went up the canon fol-
miles and then with an abrupt turn
crossed the gorge and began climbing the
mountain. When near the summit the
view of the valley below was magnificent,
filed as it was with the light of the morn
ing sun in all its glory. AT the summit
the flowers was so abundant that we gather.
ed them by the handful while the train
was in motion. We breakfasted at Ala
mosa, and were soon transferred to the
branch of the D. & R. G. r. R., which
ends at Wagon Wheel Gap Where we
arrived at noon On Tuesday, think this
place was intended for fsherman's para
disc The gentlemen who come here
bring the most wonderful paraphanalia,
and when arrayed in all their toggery,
present an aspect unequalled by any other
costume. They fish from morning until
night, and when, like our friend George
Matthews, they come prepared to cook as
well as catch, the dinners are marvels
of cuisine. The Rio Grande is a beautiful
stream-clear and rapid, and filled with
the most beautiful speckled trout We
have seen thirty pounds several times, the
result of some one fshermans effort in
day.
Then the complexion one amasses would
well repay the journey-brown, burned,
smoked and crackled-and all without
price
Wagon Wheel Gap derives its name
from an army wagon wheel left on the
bank of the river by Fremont's expedition
some time in the forties, and the place con-
sists Of station house occupied by the
railroad agent, and log house with several
additions used as boarding house. One
mile up the valley of small brook, which
enters the river at the Gap, Is the Hot
Spring hotel, with the adjacent cottages
occupied by the boarders. The hot spring
is walled with stone, and the waters, which
are strongly impregnated with sulphur and
magnesia, are conducted to the bath house.
The baths consist of two pools and sew
eral tubs, and are free to the guests. There
are number of rheumatic people here,
and usually seem TO think themselves bene-
fitted by the waters.
The railroad only runs trains here
through the summer months. so the mail
comes tri-weekly by buck board from De
Norte, very satisfactory arrangement to
the guests. The telegraph and express
seem to be run with about the
same satisfaction, If one is to Judge
from the frequent growing All the hotel
supplies except the milk and fish come
from Denver, and In the event of wash
out are some like the mail service. Gen.
Palmer of Denver, owns the springs and
and buildings and refuses to sell them un
less he can sell vast amount of property
lying contiguous thereto.
The Wichita people have enjoyed the
stay here because they have been at liberty
to do as they pleased. The men haye
hunted snd fished and the ladies have
stayed at home and taken care of the babies |
Our number has been augmented by the
arrival of Mrs. W. T. Carlisle and chill |
dren, and the babies one and all have /
thrived
We celebrated Mr. Chas. Smyth's birth
day by having spring chicken picnic, i'm
ported from Del Norte. We cooked them
on pine knot fire and ate off Of tin plates
and drank our coffee out of tin cups.
Our artist furnished water color sketches
for the menu cards and Mrs Smyth made |
The salad while other ladies furnished the |
bouquets.
1t has been very cold some of the time
since we come. One morning the pump |
had to be thawed with hot water, and there
has been ice several times We each have |
4 fire In our rooms, and without it the
and evenings would be uncom-
cold. The scenery is not as fine
as we expected, but one could make sum. |
mer home here, with the knowledge that |
hey could always be comfortable and |
cool
| think the ladies will be ready to go |
hence when the gentlemen are, and yet |
for place 10 rest where one cannot know |
Of the outside world, and the children have |
perfect liberty know of no better place |
N snend the summer FL FM